Legal advice sought after Fiji AG stops inquiry

Transcript

A  parliamentary committee in Fiji is seeking legal advice on whether it can continue to investigate allegations by a Fijian lawyer of torture by members of the security forces.

The committee was due to hear from Aman Ravindra Singh yesterday when its chairman Netani Rika received a phone call from the Attorney General Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum.

A member of the committee, opposition MP Ratu Isoa Tikoca told Koroi Hawkins Mr Sayed-Khaiyum ordered Mr Rika to stop the meeting because it was not legally able to discuss the issue and because the matter had not been reported to police.

RATU ISOA TIKOCA: We had met for the last two days and yesterday the attorney general telephoned the chairman and ordered him to, to stop the meeting. That is unlawful because he has no jurisdiction to our committee. Our committee is directly responsible to parliament under the authority of the madam speaker who has given authority for us to deliberate on allegations against the lawyer Mr Aman Singh, his officials and the family.

KOROI HAWKINS: What were the reasons given by the attorney general for why you should stop?

IT: His reason was that Aman Singh had to lodge his complaint through the police before we conduct the meeting. But the torture, the fear that maybe the security elements of the government is conducting this torture. Aman Singh had to go over to New Zealand in the defense meeting organised by the UNDP to raise that concern, because he had fear of raising it in Fiji himself. But only through the news media that came out from New Zealand that the members of the committee we were alerted because of that report. Henceforth the request to hold this meeting and we were given the approval by the madam speaker.

KH: If you say the attorney general has no power over you then why did the committee submit to his demand or call for you to stop?

IT: Of course that is the call from the opposition party because we are worried about government members of the committee, they can be disciplined or they can even be booted out.

KH: And what is?

IT: Because that is the normal practice of the  attorney general.

KH: What is being done now? I understand it is not cancelled it has been suspended. What is being done at the moment?

IT: At the moment we are trying to find our way where we can actually sit as soon as possible and resume the meeting. In terms of the legality of having to report it to the police immediately that will stop from proceeding. Once you report that the police is given to investigate and our fear is that investigation can last for a hundred years. So the lawyers are trying to filter the way through in finding out what is the best so that we can assume the meeting as soon as possible.

Ratu Isoa says the Attorney General's move is yet another example of Mr Sayed-Khaiyum usurping the authority of Fiji's democratic institutions.